Citation

Palmer CT. Evol. Psychol. 2009; 7(3): 463-466.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, The Author(s), Publisher Ian Pitchford and Robert M. Young)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Reviews the book, "Sexual Coercion in Primates and Humans: An Evolutionary Perspective on Male Aggression Against Females" by Martin N. Muller & Richard W. Wrangham (2009). This book makes an important contribution to the fields of primatology, behavioral ecology, evolutionary psychology, and potentially even cultural anthropology. Its strength lies in the many chapters presenting findings from studies on a wide range of primate species. This makes the book of great potential value, even to researchers who study species that are not the explicit subject of this book. Its only obvious weakness is in regard to human rape. Readers expecting detailed presentations of new hypotheses about the evolutionary cause of rape in humans and the exact evidence that would support or falsify them will be disappointed. Unfortunately, the greatest lack of clarity is found in the discussion of the topic with the single greatest practical significance: the motivation of rapists. But this book can be used to start such a discussion, not just on the specific motivation of rapists, but on more general questions such as the relationship between evolutionary biology and traditional social science disciplines like cultural anthropology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)